[Cr(H₂O)₆]Cl₃ and [Cr(H₂O)₅Cl].H₂O represents which of the following?

Hydrate isomerism

The correct answer is option 2. Hydrate isomerism.

The compounds \([Cr(H_2O)_6]Cl_3\) and \([Cr(H_2O)_5Cl]·H_2O\) indeed represent hydrate isomerism.

Hydrate isomerism occurs when compounds have the same composition but differ in the way water molecules are coordinated within the complex. In this case, both compounds have the same composition: one chromium ion (\(Cr^{3+}\)), five water molecules, and one chloride ion (\(Cl^-\)). However, they differ in the way water molecules are coordinated.

In \([Cr(H_2O)_6]Cl_3\), all six water molecules are directly coordinated to the chromium ion.

In \([Cr(H_2O)_5Cl]·H_2O\), only five water molecules are directly coordinated to the chromium ion, while the sixth water molecule is present as a hydrate outside the coordination sphere.

Therefore, these compounds exhibit hydrate isomerism, as they have the same composition but differ in the way water molecules are coordinated within the complex.